April 18, 200521 yr Good stuff from Ozzie. Although, I'd expect a comment from at least one of those two grumps on the northside. WHITE SOX BITS Guillen: Buehrle rates more pub than 2 Cubs By Dave van Dyck Special to the Tribune April 17, 2005, 10:22 PM CDT While defending Mark Buehrle on Sunday, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen took a sideswipe at the Cubs and their much-publicized pitching duo of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. When asked why Buehrle—who is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA this year and first in the league in innings pitched and opponents' batting average—gets little credit for being one of the game's best pitchers, Guillen got rolling: "Because he plays for the White Sox and he doesn't throw 100 [m.p.h.]. If he threw hard like Randy Johnson and Kerry Wood, he would be one of the top No. 1 guys in baseball. "He'll never win the Cy Young [Award] because he plays for the wrong team. He doesn't play with Boston, New York or the Cubs, and that's why nobody talks about him. That's it. "Mark Buehrle does a lot better stuff than some people in this game, and nobody ever says anything about him. "I don't want to name people because I'm going to get in trouble. But you know who we're talking about." Guillen was then asked if Buehrle would be a Cy Young winner if he played for the Cubs. "No, but he would be more popular because we got a couple players on the other side [of town] who are real big in this town who are not doing even close to what Buehrle does." How fast? Take out between-innings breaks and Buehrle's 2-1 victory over Seattle on Saturday was accomplished in an astonishing 1 hour 3 minutes 35 seconds, according to the Mariners' public-relations department. So Buehrle and Seattle's Ryan Franklin combined for 51 outs in 631/2 minutes. There were 17 commercial breaks for 35 minutes 25 seconds. (And for comparison, the Mariners' pregame show was two hours long). Why can't every pitcher be as efficient? "Because they think too much," Guillen said. "They are afraid to do what they are supposed to do. I think Buehrle just goes out and doesn't let himself get beat. 'Beat me if you can. If not, we'll be out of here quick.' "I think it's fun to watch those kinds of games. It's easy for everyone to enjoy the game." Credit check Carl Everett is off to a strong start but was retired twice with men on base Sunday. Asked what the Seattle pitchers were doing to get him and teammates out, Everett was clear: "I'm not one who's going to ever give a pitcher any credit. So that's a bad question to ask me." Unexpected clouds Sunday's loss was the first in a day game since September 2003 for Freddy Garcia. The Sox right-hander was 10-0 with a 2.29 ERA in day games in more than a year, a run of daytime success that prompted Guillen to muse: "I think Freddy pitches for the wrong team. If he pitched on the North Side, he would win the Cy Young. I don't think it has anything to do with anything. Maybe the other team is tired." Said Garcia: "I just pitched every five days and must have gotten luck on the day games." Extra innings Left fielder Scott Podsednik is expected to start Monday night against Minnesota. He hasn't played since last Monday because of a strained groin muscle. … Seattle's Richie Sexson, who had three homers and 12 RBIs in the first nine games, missed the entire series with the flu. Tribune staff reporter John Mullin contributed to this report. Copyright © 2005, The Chicago Tribune
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(The Critic @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 04:16 AM) That quote from Carl is hilarious! Yep. What a character that guy is. Most players would just kind of bulls*** you. Yeah, he had good stuff tonight, we couldn't get anything going against him, blah blah blah. But Carl, he doesn't beat around the bush. Ozzie said some crazy s*** the other day too. I'm not sure if it was posted on here, but he said that most Latin players are so eager to play baseball that they'd accept contracts for rice and beans.
April 18, 200520 yr Steff, I respect your opinion which I generally agree with but on Ozzie I'm in complete disagreement. Ozzie is obviously not your typical baseball coach but it seems clear to me that his players like him and play hard for him. And, I enjoy his (pardon the pun) frankness.
April 18, 200520 yr Duly noted.. Me.. I just don't see the point in b****ing and whining about not getting media coverage.. Boo hoo... manage the team and stop crying about the unfair media treatment. JMO..
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(Steff @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 09:05 AM) Duly noted.. Me.. I just don't see the point in b****ing and whining about not getting media coverage.. Boo hoo... manage the team and stop crying about the unfair media treatment. JMO.. Even though he's right?
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 10:07 AM) Even though he's right? That's opinion.. but IMO, I don't ever think that whining to the media does any good. Makes him look like a baby, IMO. Like Steinbrenner issuing that statement this weekend about the Yankees sucking.. Umm.. hello.. maybe call your manager and players and tell them they are sucking to their face..?
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(Steff @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 09:12 AM) That's opinion.. but IMO, I don't ever think that whining to the media does any good. Makes him look like a baby, IMO. Like Steinbrenner issuing that statement this weekend about the Yankees sucking.. Umm.. hello.. maybe call your manager and players and tell them they are sucking to their face..? Look at it like this. If I was spending 200 million dollars on a team that was 4-8 I'd be a little pissed too.
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 10:14 AM) Look at it like this. If I was spending 200 million dollars on a team that was 4-8 I'd be a little pissed too. Me too.. but I'd call them in and take care of business in private. I just don't see where any of those comments or meeting do anything for the game or the fans relationship with the players by being made public. Just something that's always gotten under my skin.
April 18, 200520 yr QUOTE(Steff @ Apr 18, 2005 -> 09:17 AM) Me too.. but I'd call them in and take care of business in private. I just don't see where any of those comments or meeting do anything for the game or the fans relationship with the players by being made public. Just something that's always gotten under my skin. He's probably just voicing the opinions already shared by the thousands of misguided souls that call themselves Spankee fans. Back on topic though. I personally have no issue with MB not getting that much play in the media. Better that the other teams dont see him coming.
April 20, 200520 yr follow-up piece on this today. sorry if it's posted elsewhere: Comparing Buehrle with Wood, Prior By Paul Sullivan Tribune staff reporter April 19, 2005, 7:52 PM CDT CINCINNATI -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen not only ruffled Frank Thomas' feathers with his unfiltered remarks over the weekend, he also may have added some fuel to the Cubs-Sox rivalry. While heaping praise on Sox ace Mark Buehrle, Guillen said Buehrle didn't get as much credit as he deserved because he doesn't play for a high-profile team such as the Yankees, Red Sox or Cubs. Asked if Buehrle would win a Cy Young Award if he pitched for the Cubs, Guillen said no, but added, "He would be more popular because we got a couple players on the other side [of town] who are real big in this town who are not doing even close to what Buehrle does." Guillen apparently was talking about Cubs starters Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, each of whom has garnered much attention while Buehrle has toiled in near-anonymity on the South Side. While Buehrle probably would be the last person to complain about the lack of attention he receives, Guillen's comment is likely to be resurrected May 20-22, when the two teams meet at Wrigley Field for the first of two three-game series this season. Though numbers aren't the only measure of a pitcher, the career statistics of the three pitchers suggest Guillen's comment was a bit overboard. Going into Tuesday's games, both Buehrle and Wood had pitched in 167 major-league games. Wood came up in 1998, two years earlier than Buehrle, but injuries have limited him to 1,0611/3 innings, 50 more than Buehrle. While Buehrle has four more career victories than Wood's 67 and a higher winning percentage (.607 to .568), Wood has a slightly lower earned-run average (.3.68 to 3.72) and 628 more strikeouts. Buehrle, of course, is more of a finesse pitcher and has issued 276 fewer walks than Wood (245 to 521). Prior came up to the Cubs in 2002 after only nine minor-league starts, so he's far behind Buehrle in victories (71-37). But Prior went into Tuesday's start with a higher winning percentage (.660) and a much better strikeouts-to-walks ratio of 4 to 1, compared to Buehrle's ratio of a little better than 2 to 1. All three pitchers have one All-Star selection under their belts, and all have potentially bright futures. Buehrle is off to a good start and deserves the kudos. But to say the two Cubs starters haven't come close to Buehrle in their careers is an opinion not backed up by the cold, hard stats. the buehrle-wood comparison's bulls***--buerhle's career ERA+ is significantly better. the prior comparison's not as bad, though he might note that buerhle's thrown about 97 kajillion more innings than prior over the same period. durability should count for something. anyway there you go.
April 20, 200520 yr QUOTE(False Alarm @ Apr 20, 2005 -> 11:56 AM) follow-up piece on this today. sorry if it's posted elsewhere: the buehrle-wood comparison's bulls***--buerhle's career ERA+ is significantly better. the prior comparison's not as bad, though he might note that buerhle's thrown about 97 kajillion more innings than prior over the same period. durability should count for something. anyway there you go. His argument is total bulls*** Who gives a s*** about strikeouts...if you're not getting W's. Ozzie never said MB is a better strikeout pitcher. If you're hurt for two years...that hurts the team which in my book, hurts you as a pitcher. I'm also not sure about Sullivans stats...and if I'm looking at the wrong thing...correct me, but MLB.com has their walk to strikeout ratio virtually the same Wood with 2.31 strikeout to walk ratio not 4. Buehrle with a 2.32 strikeout to walk ratio. Wood does get more striekouts, yes...but he also gives up 4.42 walks per 9 while Buehrle gives up only 2.18. Either way it's a dumb argument by that guy. I don't think Oz's point was to get into a stat war anyway...he was simply pointing that MB gets little notoriety when he pretty much has had a better career so far than Kerry Wood. Oz was asked these questions. I'm glad he spoke the truth...He wasn't b****in about anything. He was stating a fact...that nobody else would say. If MB was on the Cubs, Boston or the Yankees...he would be a household name. Edited April 20, 200520 yr by Controlled Chaos
April 20, 200520 yr Author I find it funny that the Trib felt the need to publish a rebuttal to Ozzie's comments. I guess he hit a little too close to home.
April 20, 200520 yr Duly noted.. Me.. I just don't see the point in b****ing and whining about not getting media coverage.. Boo hoo... manage the team and stop crying about the unfair media treatment. JMO.. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm with you steff, let the Chubs get all the media coverage.. All I care about is one thing W
April 20, 200520 yr Now I understand the barb Wolf had against the Sox this morning on 97.9. I still can't stand him and don't believe he is a Sox fan for a minute either.
April 20, 200520 yr Based on NPERA rankings over the years: 69 Buehrle, Mark - Top of the list in Chicago 69 Garcia, Freddy - Not far behind 65 Wood, Kerry - A few notches below 26 Prior, Mark - a promising puppy It's a point system based on NPERA rankings the last 4 yrs. A #1 ranking earns 30 pts in a given year. #30 ranking earns 1 pt Anything else earns 0 pts.
April 21, 200520 yr Buehrle is off to a good start and deserves the kudos. But to say the two Cubs starters haven't come close to Buehrle in their careers is an opinion not backed up by the cold, hard stats. This is the only valid point Sully makes. The two Cubs have come close to Buehrle. That's all. Just close. And I mean the two of them together.
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